I was thinking about different preachers I’ve been under and listening to different sermons and how our pastor is primarily an evangelist and a teacher secondary. Every Sunday, no matter what the text, we get “turn or burn”. I’ve gone through various responses. After examining myself for a couple weeks, I am ready to admit that I turned a long time ago and I’m not worried about burning. But I need to understand that he is not called to meet my criteria, but to be faithful to his calling.
There are number people that feel like he’s really preaching the word. OK. That’s partially an indication that he’s doing what God wants him to do. We see people making spiritual progress as they move back into a serious desire to follow the Lord. OK, that’s another indication that he’s doing what he’s supposed to do.
My mind wandered down one of them many rabbit trails that infested my mind andI came up with the quiestion of how would you evaluate a congregation based on the way in which God is impressing the pastor to preach? What does the sermon topic say about what the Holy Spirit knows that we don’t know. If that were a legitimate criteria, and I’m not saying that it necessarily is, then how would I evaluate our church. I might assume that this is a church full of pagans who have never heard the gospel before. Maybe hiding behind the façade of being a believer are people who all their lives have rejected the good news. Possible, but not probable. Perhaps there’s a good number of them that are heretics or halfway. Perhaps on any given Sunday there is one person in the crowd who’s on the verge of turning their life over to Christ. So many possible reasons.
And of course, there is what may be the real reason.
It may be that my attitude needs a serious adjustment. It could be that there are verses being quoted that I need to be reminded of and to look at in greater depth during the week. It could be the thing that’s holding him back is the fact that I’m being too much of a rock head.
The perfect church does not exist. As far as I’m concerned, this comes as close as I can find at this point. May God bless the pastor as he prepares to preach and teach and keep my mind open and my heart tender.
And what did we say as children, “Same to you and more of it.”
homo unius libri
Welcome to Varied Expressions of Worship
Welcome to Varied Expressions of Worship
This blog will be written from an orthodox Christian point of view. There may be some topic that is out of bounds, but at present I don't know what it will be. Politics is a part of life. Theology and philosophy are disciplines that we all participate in even if we don't think so. The Bible has a lot to say about economics. How about self defense? Is war ethical? Think of all the things that someone tells you we should not touch and let's give it a try. Everything that is a part of life should be an expression of worship.
Keep it courteous and be kind to those less blessed than you, but by all means don't worry about agreeing. We learn more when we get backed into a corner.
This blog will be written from an orthodox Christian point of view. There may be some topic that is out of bounds, but at present I don't know what it will be. Politics is a part of life. Theology and philosophy are disciplines that we all participate in even if we don't think so. The Bible has a lot to say about economics. How about self defense? Is war ethical? Think of all the things that someone tells you we should not touch and let's give it a try. Everything that is a part of life should be an expression of worship.
Keep it courteous and be kind to those less blessed than you, but by all means don't worry about agreeing. We learn more when we get backed into a corner.
Opus 2026-423: Will the Real Pagan Please Stand Up
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Comments are welcome. Feel free to agree or disagree but keep it clean, courteous and short. I heard some shorthand on a podcast: TLDR, Too long, didn't read.